What to Wear on Safari
Just booked your first African safari? You may
have realized that there are a series of considerations when it comes to
clothing, but don’t panic if you end up with information overload from Google.
Try not to over-think safari gear – there is no need to blow thousands of
dollars on traditional khaki gear.
Having said that, it is better to blend in
than stand out, so neutral toned clothing is best – think beige, brown, muted
greens, and anything on this spectrum.
We’ve put together a one-stop guide on packing
for your safari, with information on material, weather considerations,
area idiosyncrasies and some useful packing tips. If you feel like you
are ready to jump right in and look at selections available, we recommend the
wide collection of safari clothing.
OVERVIEW:
You may see safari clothing advertised on
online stores with all kinds of technical additions, from embedded insect
repellent to special vents – these tend to be overpriced and are not necessary.
Comfortable clothes that you can layer are the best – cotton, lightweight
shirts, fleece jackets, sandals and closed walking shoes.
Long pants that zip off at the knee are a neat
addition, and will also reduce your packing load.
It’s fairly important to pack lightly – most
safari lodges and camps offer a laundry service, so there is no need to bring a
different shirt for every day of your trip.
It’s inadvisable to bring very expensive
clothing – you’re likely to get a little dirty or dusty when exploring reserves
in open-sided vehicles, so don’t bring any clothing you’d be devastated to lose
or mess up.
For women, dresses are ok for evenings at the
camp; however, if you’re in an area that has strong mosquito presence it’s
advisable to wear long pants to keep your legs protected.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking Africa is
hot 24/7. Early mornings and nights can be much chillier than you may expect,
so remember to bring something warm to keep cozy during the early hours and
late evenings. Warm pyjamas are a must. Safari vehicles are either
completely open or have open sides with a roof, so chilly breezes will happen.
Bring a windbreaker to help with wind chill, and a beanie and gloves can be
lifesavers on early morning safaris.
Basic Packing List:
·
T-shirts
·
Long sleeved shirts
·
Fleece or warm
sweatshirt
·
Windbreaker
·
Shorts (or pants that
zip off at the knee)
·
Comfortable
trousers/pants
·
Socks
·
Underwear (you can
wash and dry at night, so don’t over-pack)
·
Waterproof raincoat if
traveling during wet season
·
Sunglasses
·
Warm pyjamas pants for
cold nights
·
Hat (preferably with
chin strap)
·
Swimsuit if you’re
staying at lodges with swimming pools
·
Comfortable walking
shoes
·
Flip flops/sandals for
around camp
Materials
It may be tempting to go for traditional cotton,
but you’ll sweat. It’ll pay off to buy breathable synthetic clothing,
especially types designed to keep you cool in high temps.
Colors
Color can depend on where you’re heading for
safari. For the most part, stick to neutral shades – beige, brown and muted
greens. These will help you blend into your surroundings, especially while
walking. White is ok when in vehicles, but not during walking
safaris. The same goes for black – stark colors will make you stand out when
you’re walking in the bush, potentially attracting unwanted attention from
dangerous animals.
There are also specific areas that warrant
other restrictions – for example, some areas of Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia are
home to tsetse flies. Tsetse flies carry human sleeping sickness, and while most
flys are not infected, their bite can be extremely painful. Avoid black
and blue clothing as the flies are attracted to these colors, and make
sure you wear closed shoes and take insect repellent with you. Als, make sure
to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts during the day when out on safari.
Tsetse flies are mostly found in wooded areas
and water sources like river banks – you’ll be unlikely to find them out on the
Serengeti plains and Masai Mara. Amboseli is also largely free of the pests.
Extras
It can be worthwhile to pack in a pair
of gloves (fingerless or full) and a beanie (knitted
hat), especially if you tend to be susceptible to cold temps. Since vehicles
are open, early-morning cold winds will make the ride uncomfortable unless you
cover up sufficiently.
Scarves can also be great for keeping the chill
at bay, and double as a camera cover to keep the dust off your gear.
Sun hats (preferably with chin straps) and sunglasses are
also important!
Where are you going
and what type of safari are you doing?
Different regions have different features when
it comes to wildlife and environment, as well as safari type, and will guide
your packing.
If you are heading to Zambia, it’s highly
likely you’ll be doing walking safaris. So keep in mind that you’ll need
comfortable, durable walking shoes, a sun-hat and avoid white and black
clothing.
If you are doing boating safaris – e.g Zambezi
and Okavango (Botswana) – you should take a good waterproof windbreaker and
prepare for very cold nighttime temperatures.
The dry season in Kruger sees far fewer
mosquitoes, so women can comfortably pack in dresses for evenings at camp, and
worry less about being bitten when out on safari.
If you’re safari-ing close to Cape Town, the
Eastern Cape, Pilanesberg or Madikwe, you don’t need to worry about packing
malaria medication – these areas are all outside of the malaria belt.
Climate Considerations
– when are you traveling?
If you’re heading to South Africa, remember
that climate varies significantly between the Western Cape and the greater
Kruger region. The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate and sees warm, dry
summers and cold, wet winters.
In contrast, the Kruger and Pilanesberg areas
have subtropical temps, with summer rainfall and dry winters. The area tends to
keep similar daytime temps (around 25°C) year round. If you’re going on safari
in Sanbona (around 3 hours from Cape Town) you’ll experience cold days (with
occasional rain) from June to September and hot, dry days between October and
April.
Also bear in mind that if you are traveling to
South Africa and going from a visit in Cape Town to Kruger for safari, you may
experience vastly different temperatures in each region. Pack for both ends of
the spectrum.
If you’re heading to East Africa, expect
steady daytime temperatures of high 20s (Celsius) year round. At night it can
be cooler, dropping into the teens. Rainy seasons in Kenya and Tanzania are
from November to January and March to May, with some regional variations. If
you’re traveling in these time frames, pack a raincoat!
In general, be prepared in areas like
Botswana, Zambia and Kruger for a couple days that soar up to 40°C if you’re
traveling in summer. This is where that synthetic, breathable fabric will come
in handy.
Temperature Reference
Table:
Ave max temp
|
Ave min temp
|
Wet Season
|
Dry Season
|
|
Kenya
|
25°C
|
10°C
|
Nov-May
|
June-October
|
Tanzania
|
26°C
|
16°C
|
March-May
|
June-October
|
Zambia
|
26°C
|
12°C*
|
Dec-March
|
June-August
|
Botswana
|
28°C
|
10°C*
|
Nov-April
|
May-October
|
South Africa (Kruger)
|
27°C
|
9°C
|
Dec-April
|
May-November
|
*Minimum temperatures in Zambia can drop as
low as 5°C.
**Botswana’s winter nighttime temps can drop
to near freezing in some areas
NB! Weather in Africa
has become increasingly unpredictable, so even taking patterns into account,
you should always be prepared for anything. Pack that raincoat just in case.
Laundry
Considerations:
Many camps have laundry facilities, and you
can have all your clothing washed. Keep in mind though, that most, if not all,
will also iron clothing. This serves a practical purpose, as putsi flies like
to lay eggs in damp clothing – ironing kills eggs. If you have any delicate
clothing that would be burned or damaged by ironing, be sure to let the staff
at your camp know.
Most people also prefer to wash their own
undergarments, so it can be handy to bring along some liquid handwashing soap
for this purpose.
Things to avoid:
Jeans are not ideal – they can be too warm
during the day, and take long to dry if you are doing laundry – camps will not
have drying machines.
Don’t pack high heeled or wedged shoes,
you won’t be needing them and they’re highly unpractical in a bush situation.
When it comes to shoe packing, comfort and durability is what you want.
If you are crossing borders on your trip,
don’t wear camouflage! Camo clothing tends to draw unwanted
attention at border crossings.
Leave expensive jewelry and watches at
home. They’re out of place in the bush, and if left unattended in rooms or
tents, they can fall prey to monkeys, who are partial to stealing shiny
objects.
Even at expensive camps, safari lodges are
mostly very casual. There’s no need to bring evening wear, although
you certainly can wear “nicer” clothing than you would on safari. Keep
everything comfortable and stick to the policy of avoiding bright colours.
Remember to layer!
Luggage:
If you are flying between camps/reserves, you
will need to keep in mind luggage restrictions.
Small aircraft usually have a baggage limit of
around 20-30lbs, so remember to pack light. It may be better to bring a light
duffel bag rather than a wheeled suitcase, and this will also force you to keep
the contents of your bag to the essentials.
Toiletries
Many camps have full bathroom amenities, but
not all. Check with your camp if they stock shampoo and soap etc. Bring along
travel sized shampoos/conditioners, toothpaste and other cosmetic products.
Don’t forget the insect repellent!
First Aid Kits
Camps will definitely carry first aid kits,
but there’s no harm in bringing a couple small things with you. A good
antibacterial cream like Bactroban, some disinfectant and band aids are always
useful, and if you don’t need them, chances are someone else in the camp might.
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